Improvement in harvesters



UNITED lS'rnrns JOHN H. ELWARD, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 141,866, dated August 19, 1873 application filed 1 .May 2c, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J orrN H. ELWARD, of

St. Paul, county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a newV and useful Improvement in Harvesters, of which the following -is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the front grain side of a harvesting-machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the elevating-apron and delivery-shield with intermediate discharging-rollers.

Similar letters of reference parts in all the figures.

My invention consists, first, in the combination of a friction-roller with the lower endof the yielding spring-board, which holds the grain down to the action of the elevating rakes or apron, for facilitating'the entrance ofthe denote similar grain between said board and rake or apron,

as hereinafter explained; second, in the combination of a lifting-roller with the yielding compressing-board, whereby either or both ends of said .board may be raised; third, in combining a ribbed or corrugated discharging-roller with the notched slats of the elevator-apron and, fourth, in the co mbination, with a machine provided with a receptacle for the shattered grain and short heads, of a second elevating-apron for taking the grain after it has been discharged from the first elevating apron or rake, and delivering it into a cart or wagon by the side of the machine, whereby the grain, when too ripe, or otherwise not in iit condition to be bound, may be discharged into such cart or wagon, while at the same time the shattered grain is caught and saved; and, lastly, in certain details of construction and arrangement, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the drivingwheel; B B', the frame; C, horizontal receiving apron; Gl, the elevatingapron; D, the discharging-roller, for clearing the rake-teeth at the point of delivery; E E', the inclined delivery-shield, for receiving the grain and straw from the elevator apron or rake and depositing it upon the receiving-ngers, or into the binders platform and receptacle F F', the receivin g-fln ger, shown turned down out of the way to accommodate a secondary elevating and discharging apron; G, overhanging pivoted arms, which, when the grain is bound upon the machine, support the longitudinal bars, represented in dotted lines in the drawings. Parts of the machine not hereinafter particularly referred to may be constructed and applied in any usual or desired manner. H H are seat-supporting bars, which overhang the inner or upper face of the elevator-apron O1, and are connected by the longitudinal seat-plank H', arranged over the apron, as shown. I I areiiat springs, ccnnected at their upper ends with the seat-plank,

and at their lower, ends with a spring barv or board, J, to which they afford a yielding support. This rod or bar J has connected to it a number of curved elastic or spring rods or wires; extending from its upper or rear edge upward and over the upper end of the elevating-apron C1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, these rods, together with the spring-bar J, serving to hold the grain properly to the action of the elevating-apronOl. To the opposite or lower edge of the spring-board J I attach, by straps j, in any suitable manner, a roller, J', which extends across the elevating-apron at or near its lower end, and is pivoted in straps j in such manner as to roll freely, andthus serve to facilitate the entrance of the grain underneath the spring-board J and yielding rods connected therewith, in a manner that will be readily understood. To the upper face of the spring-board J is attached the lower ends of straps, chains, or cords j', the upper ends of which are connected with a lifting-roller, K, the pivot or shaft of which has its bearings in slotted brackets Il, attached either directly to the seat-plank H', as shown, or to a longitudinal bar lying parallel with said seat-plank, and connected therewith by a central transverse pivot mounted in the seat-plank at or about midway of its length. Where this lat- *l ter construction is adopted the supportingbrackets L need not be slotted, as the vibration of supporting-bar or liftin g-roller Kis thus provided for. 'The lifting-roller K has a lever, K', rigidly connected vwith it, so karran ged that the attendant, by simply vibrating said lever ine renace ward toward the elevator-apron (l1, can rock or roll thelifting-roller K in its bearin gs, and thus, through its connection with the spring-board J and roller J', raise the said board and roller bodily for relieving the elevating-apron from any undue accumulation of grain, which would interfere with its perfect action, or, by vibrating said lever forward or backward, either on its transverse pivotal connection with the seat plank, or by raising one end in its slotted pivotal support, as explained, can raise either end of the spring-board independently of the other for freeing either end of said board or of the elevator apron or rake from undue accumulation, by permitting it to pass through the enlarged space thus provided for its escape. Upon the seat-plankH', arranged, as described, over the elevator-apron, in convenient position to enable the operation of said apron to be observed and controlled by the attendant, as explained, I also pivot the lifting-lever M in an upright, N, on the seatsplank, the rear end or arm of said lever extending into convenient position to be operated by the driver in his seat, and held at any desired point bya notched or spurred segment-rack, N, with which the lever is held engaged by a spring. The forward end of the lever is connected, by means of links a nl and lever u2, with the pivoted tongue, and through said connection the driver can readily raise the cutters for passing obstructions, or depress them for picking up fallen grain.

Ordinarily, when the grain is in suitable condition for binding, it is delivered, the long straw to the receiving fingers F', and the shattered grain and short heads into the receptacle F, which also constitutes the binders platform in such case, as already explained 5 but when the grain has been allowed to become rotted or too ripe to be safely bound on the machine, or if from any other cause it is preferred not to bind it on the machine, I provide for its delivery into a cart or wagon-body, arranged or driven by the side of the machine, by the employment of a second elevator and discharging-apron, O2, which receives it from the first elevator, rake, or apron, G1, after first permitting the short heads and shattered grain to escape between them, over the inclined shield E E', into the receptacle F. The elevator-apron (ll is provided with slats having V-shaped notches, and the upper end of the shield E is provided with similar notches, both matching hubs, rings, or ferrules d on the intermediate roller D, which, being rotated in the same direction with the elevator-apron by any suitable arrangement of band and pulleys or gearing, causes the rings or hubs d, which enter the notches in the slats, to pick up the grain off the slats and apron, and to discharge it upon the shield E.

The secondary apron-frame is connected, by links or rods and straps 0 o, with the main or first elevator-frame in any suitable manner, so that it may be readily applied or removed, and is provided with a spring-board, I), and rods p, as represented. The lower end of the secondary apron C2 is arranged sufficiently near the shield E to take the long straw, and yet suiiiciently removed therefrom to permit the escape into receptacle F of the shattered grain and heads; or the space between the shield and the secondary apron may be increased and bridged by fingers which carry the straw to the apron, but permit the shattered grainY and heads to pass between them into the receptacle F.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rEhe roller J', in combination with thc yielding spring-board J, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The lifting-roller K, in combination with the spring-board J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The lifting-roller K, mounted in pivotal bearings on the seat-support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The discharging-roller D, provided with hubs or rings d, in combination with the notched slats of the elevator-apron, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The arrangement of the secondary elevating and discharging apron @2in the described relation to the shield E and shattered grain receptacle F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of May, A. D. 1873.

JOIIN H. ELVARD.

Vitnesses:

L. D. WrLKns, W. J. DEAN. 

